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Clementines (Citrus reticulata "Clementine") are beautiful lush green trees that produce juicy citrus fruit in mid to late fall. They grow well outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11, but also can be potted and grown indoors elsewhere. If you live where it doesn't get below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, care for the clementine tree in a pot until it grows to 3 feet tall, then transplant it outside.

1

Water the soil when it is dry down to a depth of 2 inches. Dampen enough to moisten the soil without over watering. You want the dirt to be damp when touched and to spring back if you press into it with your fingers. If a pool of water forms when you press in, then you are watering it too much.

2

Locate a potted clementine tree outdoors in full sun during the warmer months when the temperature consistently stays above 40 F with no threat of frost. During the fall and winter, bring the tree indoors. Place it near a southern-facing window, and mist with water every day to keep the leaves moist.

3

Plant clementine trees outdoors once they have grown to 3 or 4 feet tall in areas where temperatures stay above 40 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. Dig a hole for the tree in a location that gets full sun and has well-draining soil. The hole needs to be deep and wide enough to fit the root system. Place the tree in the hole, and fill around it with the soil you removed. Add mulch around the tree to protect the roots from cold weather and to trap moisture. Water the tree for about five minutes to give it a good drink.

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4

Fertilize the clementine in the spring with citrus tree fertilizer spikes. Measure the diameter of the tree and insert one spike for every inch in diameter. Place the spikes in the ground at the drip line.

5

Prune the clementine as it grows to remove dead or crossing limbs, as well as to thin out the tree to bring in more light. With the exception of removing dead limbs, pruning should be done in the spring after all threat of frost is gone. Snip branches just above a leaf node at a 45-degree angle. Use pruning snips, loppers or a pruning saw depending on the size of the branch.

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About the Author

Tara Shore holds a Bachelor of Science in business finance and has written for online publications since 2007. She has professional experience in banking, accounting, travel and teaching. Shore is also a master gardener and a travel agent.